Ra đầm (‘off for the lagoon’), a bronze-medal winning photo at the 10th International Photography Contest, Vietnam 2019 (VN-19). Photo: LE TAN THANH

Descendants from the hometown of the founder of Vietnam photography

Proud to be the descendants of the founder of Vietnam photography, Dang Huy Tru, Thua Thien Hue photographers are standing side by side to develop one of the strong associations nationwide.

In Hue, there are currently several photographer communities, including a branch of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) with 24 members, a provincial association of photographic artists with 60 members, Dang Huy Tru photography club and Hai Van women photographer club. The branch of VAPA plays the leading part in the development of the photography in Hue.

In his visits to Hue, the VAPA chairman, photographer Vu Quoc Khanh, has appreciated the activities of photographers in Thua Thien Hue. In a visit to Hue for the incense-offering ceremony at Dang Huy Tru temple and the conference “Dang Huy Tru – the founder of Vietnam Photography” he was very impressed when he saw Hue photographers in traditional costumes to receive guests.

Following their Facebook accounts, we will see that they travel everywhere for valuable shots. They are present at almost all events and scenes, from festivals in Hue, the heritage and landscape sites, the villages in Thua Thien Hue to different areas in Vietnam. “Thua Thien Hue Association of Photographic Artists has devoted, art-loving staff whose works are of high quality,” said photographer Vu Quoc Khanh.

Thăm rớ (‘loop-net checking’), a bronze-medal winning photo at the Vietnam Photograph Contest 2017 and prize A for the magnificent photo 2017 voted by VAPA. Photo: TRUONG VUNG

The sparkling medals

Since 2014, Thua Thien Hue photographers have gained considerable achievements: 20 international prizes (3 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 9 bronze medals) by Ho Ngoc Son, Van Dinh Huy, Nguyen Huu Tai, Ngo Thanh Minh and Truong Vung; 16 international honorable mentions by Ho Ngoc Son, Dang Van Tran, especially Ngo Thanh Minh’s first prize offered by Sony Vietnam; 5 national prizes by Truong Vung and Ngo Thanh Minh; 4 annual excellent prizes offered by VAPA for Truong Vung, Ngo Thanh Minh and Dang Van Tran. Photographers in Thua Thien Hue have had a total of 1,130 works exhibited at national, regional and international contests.

In the 10th International Photography Contest, Vietnam 2019 (VN-19), Thua Thien Hue had 9 prize-winning works. Young photographer Le Tan Thanh amazingly had 6 works selected for exhibition, which has never happened before.

These achievements have brought members of Thua Thien Hue Association of Photographic Artists several honorable titles from VAPA and the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). Particularly, photographer Truong Vung was awarded EVAPA/G title, adding to the list of 8 honored artists in Thua Thien Hue.

Other 10 members were awarded the VAPA Certificate of Merits, among whom there are members having the honor to successively receive the award for three years. The branch of VAPA in Hue was also awarded the Certificate of Merits from the VAPA Executive Committee for three successive years.

Nét đầm phá (‘The beauty of Lagoon’), a silver medal winning photo at the Photography Festival of the Northern Central Vietnam 2014 and prize B for the magnificent photo 2014 voted by the VAPA. Photo: TRUONG VUNG

Not for mere contests

“It is to raise the public awareness of the beauty and the preservation of beauty,” said photographer Pham Van Ty, VAPA Vice-Chairman. “They’ve made good shots of Hue to tell the whole world how gorgeous Hue is.” 

Photographers in Thua Thien Hue are all well aware that their artistic creativity is to introduce to the public the hometown, the Vietnamese people in general and the locals of Thua Thien Hue in particular. Therefore, they often have excellent works on the occasion of public holidays and Hue Festival events once they have been granted favorable conditions.

In addition to the annual project of creativity, they have made various photographic themes on the country and the people, as well as Thua Thien Hue, to contribute to the promotion of the innovation and development of the country.

One of the activities efficient at boosting the creativity is the organization of the exhibitions of members’ new works, the exchanges with photographers from other cities and provinces, such as the six VAPA branches in Northern Central Vietnam and the five branches from ancient cities. Especially, the photo collection in the Hanoi-Hue-Ho Chi Minh City exchange have been exhibited in three cities in turn and made good impression on the viewers.

In the lively summer 2019, they have captured beautiful moments of the ‘Green Sunday’ movement throughout the province. They have all voiced their concerns about the “public-owned” Flamboyant tree by the Trang Tien Bridge. They have pioneered to take photographs depicting the efforts of the fire-fighters, soldiers and people of Thua Thien Hue in the fighting against the fire to protect the forests. In the long run, they will go on to tell beautiful stories about life and about Hue via their photos.

By HO DANG THANH NGOC

• The overall picture of current world heritages (28/03)
• Institut français de Hué: Connecting young artists with the public (27/03)
• Self-immersion in “Thanks to Eva” (24/03)
• Private cultural spaces (23/03)
• Hue - land of happiness (21/03)
• To always be a "culinary capital" (18/03)
• Keeping pine trees for Hue (15/03)
• "Slowly walking along the Perfume river" (13/03)